1 Samuel 11
11
Saul delivers Jabesh-gilead
# 11.0 This paragraph is found in DSS (4QSam a) and is also attested in Josephus (Ant. 6.5.1 [68-71]), but is missing in MT.Nahash the Ammonite king had been severely oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He gouged out everyone’s right eye, thereby not allowing Israel to have a deliverer. There wasn’t a single Israelite left across the Jordan River who hadn’t had their right eye gouged out by the Ammonite king Nahash. But seven thousand people had escaped from the Ammonites’ power and fled to Jabesh-gilead.
1About a month later,#11.1 DSS (4QSama), LXX; MT lacks About a month later. Nahash the Ammonite went up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we’ll be your servants.”
2“I will make a treaty with you on one condition: that everyone’s right eye be gouged out!” Nahash the Ammonite said to them. “That’s how I bring humiliation on all Israel.”
3The elders of Jabesh replied to him, “Leave us alone for seven days so we can send messengers thoughout Israel’s territory. If there’s no one to save us, then we’ll surrender to you.”
4When the messengers reached Gibeah where Saul lived, they reported the news directly to the people there. Then they all wept aloud. 5At just that moment, Saul was coming back from keeping the cattle in the fields. “What’s wrong with everybody?” he asked. “Why are they crying?” Saul was then told what the men from Jabesh had said.
6God’s spirit came over Saul when he heard those words, and he burned with anger. 7He took two oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout Israel’s territory. “This is exactly what will be done to the oxen of anyone who doesn’t come to the aid of Saul and Samuel,” he said. Great fear of the LORD came over the people, and they came to Saul completely unified.#11.7 MT lacks to Saul. 8When Saul counted them at Bezek, the soldiers from Israel totaled three hundred thousand and those from Judah thirty thousand.
9The messengers who had come were then told, “Say this to the people of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.” When the messengers returned and reported this to the people of Jabesh, they were overjoyed.
10Then the people of Jabesh told the Ammonites, “We will surrender to you tomorrow. Then you can do whatever you want to us.”
11The next day Saul organized his troops into three formations. They attacked the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. The survivors were so scattered that not even two of them could be found together.
12Then people asked Samuel, “Who was it who said, ‘Will Saul rule over us?’ Give us those people; we’ll kill them!”
13But Saul said, “No one will be executed because today the LORD has saved Israel.”
14“Let’s go to Gilgal,” Samuel told the people, “and renew the monarchy there.” 15So everyone went to Gilgal, and there at Gilgal they made Saul king in the LORD’s presence. They offered well-being sacrifices in the LORD’s presence, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration there.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
1 Kings 11
11
1And it came to pass about a month after this that Naas, the Ammonite came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us; and we will serve thee.
2And Naas the Ammonite answered them: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all Israel.
3And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel; and if there be no one to defend us; we will come out to thee.
4The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5And, behold, Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabes.
6And the spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these words; and his anger was exceedingly kindled.
7And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them into all the coasts of Israel by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out as one man.
8And he numbered them in Bezec. And there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand.
9And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to the men of Jabes Galaad: To-morrow, when the sun shall be hot, you shall have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Jabes; and they were glad.
10And they said: In the morning we will come out to you; and you shall do what you please with us.
11And it came to pass, when the morrow was come that Saul put the people in three companies. And he came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch; and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot. And the rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
12And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men and we will kill them.
13And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14And Samuel said to the people: Come and let us go to Galgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.
15And all the people went to Galgal. And there they made Saul king before the Lord in Galgal; and they sacrificed there victims of peace before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.